History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 43

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Royalton > History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911 > Part 43

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The property had been under mortgage for a number of years, and in 1875 the National Bank of Royalton foreclosed, and the next year sold to Arthur P. Brown of Lowell, Mass., who gave a deed to Henry A. Brown the next month. The hotel was in the hands of the Brown family until 1884, when Herbert H. Taylor bought one-half of it. Mr. Taylor had bought one-half in 1883, and now owned the whole of it. In less than a month Mr. Taylor sold to David C. Stearns.

The hotel had led a precarious and varied life in the last twenty years before its occupancy by Mr. Stearns. When he assumed control of it, a new period of prosperity began. Mr. Stearns was polite and obliging to all seeking his hospitality. He was ably seconded by his wife, who, though somewhat en- feebled in health, always kept the tavern so that it was attrac- tive and homelike, and added to it the graces of a well culti- vated mind. It now began to be sought as a delightful place in which to spend a summer vacation, and guests once enjoying the quiet and kindly hospitality of the host and hostess, were eager to come again.

As the years went on Mr. and Mrs. Stearns both felt the need of a release from their onerous duties as host and hostess, and in 1901 the hotel passed into the hands of Caspar P. Abbott, who held it less than a year, when he sold to George D. Harring- ton. Though Mr. Harrington owned the hotel less than four years, he added much to the reputation it had acquired under Mr. Stearns, and considerably increased its patronage. The peo- ple of Royalton village saw him leave to take charge of the larger hotel at South Royalton in 1902 with genuine regret.

Mr. Harrington sold to James M. Boyd of Hartland. He conducted the business for two years, then leased it to J. H. Zottman for a year. In January, 1910, Mr. Boyd sold the tav- ern to his son-in-law, George L. Moore of Barre. Mr. Moore does not occupy the hotel. It is at present under the charge of Albert E. Emery, son of Amos Emery who resides in Royalton

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village. Some improvements were made while Mr. Boyd owned the property, and others are in process of making. A new coat of paint gives it a fresh appearance, but makes it look unfamiliar to those used to seeing the old brown garb of recent years. It will probably have its customary patronage of summer boarders, who enjoy the beautiful scenery from its wide verandas, and the reposefulness of the quiet village.

Capt. Gilbert, who had a hostelry near the mouth of the First Branch, on 36 Dutch, after he moved to town in 1792, sold this place to Willard Pierce in 1811 and returned to Sharon. Mr. Pierce deeded the property back to Capt. Gilbert in August, 1818, and the same year it was purchased by Asahel Cheney of Rochester. Mr. Cheney had a son, Horace, who seems to have attended to the business part of tavern keeping. That they kept an up-to-date hotel is proved by the charge which John Marshall, cabinet maker, made in April, 1823, "Horace Cheney for tavern sign, $4.00." If the hotel flung out a fine sign, it is a pretty sure indication that all the accessories were in keeping with it. Mr. Asahel Cheney had lived in Royalton village for a few years, then went to Rochester, from which place he came to take possession of the Gilbert tavern. His son, Horace, died in 1826, and he a few years later.

Phineas Pierce, Sen., bought the tavern and lot the next year after the death of Horace Cheney. He kept both hotel and store. It is possible that Mr. Cheney had also had a store, as he seems to have had one at Royalton village. Mr. Pierce won quite a reputation as a tavern keeper, and was prosperous until the hotel across the river in the new village of South Royalton was built. His hotel was situated in a beautiful spot command- ing a wide view of the river and encircling hills, and would offer to the weary traveler the prospect of good cheer and comfort- able accommodations. When the new village was a foregone conclusion, Mr. Pierce purchased some land within its limits, but if he meditated building a hotel on his land, the idea did not materialize. He was the last tavern keeper at the old "Gilbert Stand."

Jacob Fox came to Royalton about 1800. He bought a tan- nery of Benjamin Parkhurst, and settled at North Royalton. From a letter written by his son, Jacob, it appears that he opened a hotel in the year 1811. The son says he well remem- bers when the tavern sign was flung to the breeze, and from thenceforth his father and mother were publicans, and for money kept entertainment for man and beast. It is from him also that we learn that the new brick building was first occupied by them in 1818. In telling the impression it had on him, a young boy, he says, "With what awe I used to mount to the garret, and

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contemplate the surrounding country, and think how much more favored we were than others." That brick house still stands today, and bears about the same appearance as when first built. Mr. Fox secured the patronage of the freight stage drivers, and his roomy house was well filled with guests. Singing schools and parties were also held in the hall of the hotel, and so famous it became that it gave name to the diminutive settlement, which was named, and is still often called, Foxville.

Jireh Durkee gave a deed in 1805 to a part of the Timothy Durkee place in 53 Town Plot, the farm known in late years as the Edward Rix place. In this deed he stipulates that no tavern or other public house shall be erected on the land sold, that shall in any way interfere with any tavern that is or may be erected on his land. This would imply that some sort of an inn was already in operation at what is now called North Royalton.

Both Stafford Smith and Jacob Fox branched out exten- sively in the direction of land speculation and manufacturing, and both suffered in their fortunes thereby, and had to sacrifice so much as seriously to cripple them. They died comparatively poor men, and lie buried in the old cemetery near the Fox hotel.

The South Royalton House was the natural result of the building up of the new village in the south part of the town, when the railroad was built. It was the child of Daniel Tar- bell, Jr., in whose active brain plans for the growth of the third village were constantly forming and successfully carried out. He erected the hotel and engaged a landlord, Harvey H. Woodard of Tunbridge.

Mr. Woodard had been proprietor of a hotel in Tunbridge, and was not without experience in providing for the needs of the public. He was an ideal landlord, and his wife an ideal landlady, and so when a grand dedicatory ball was planned in 1851, it attracted wide attention. Managers were appointed out- side of the town as well as within, a fine band was engaged, it was well advertised, and the result was a memorable occasion. The face of one of the cards used at that time can be seen in the cut of "Special Days."

Mr. Woodard continued to lease the hotel for a number of years, but as soon as he was able, having built up a large patron- age, he bought it of Mr. Tarbell. This was in October, 1854, and from that time to the present it has been known as "Wood- ard's Hotel," though retaining the old sign, "South Royalton House." It is near the station, so that guests coming on the train have only to cross the street.

Mr. Woodard continued the business until his death, 1878, but some years before that event he had taken his only son, Charles H. Woodard, into partnership with him. His son had

SOUTH ROYALTON HOUSE, Built in 1850.

Harvey Hazen Woodard.

Charles Henry Woodard.

THE OLD FOX TAVERN, North Royalton.

THE "CASCADNAC" HOTEL, ROYALTON VILLAGE, AND THE "BRICK STORE."

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been bred to the art of pleasing the public, and on the death of his father, he and his mother successfully continued the busi- ness. The hotel had become a pleasant home for commercial travelers, and had often given large balls, attended with the finest of banquets. A small extension was built, extending toward the livery stables, which Mr. Woodard owned, sometimes alone, and sometimes in company with others. With this excep- tion, the hotel remained the same in size and appearance, as when built by Mr. Tarbell.

During the last years of Mr. Charles Woodard's occupancy, after his mother died, he had to depend on chance help in the management of the household affairs, and finally, after leasing for a few years, he sold the property to George Harrington, who had been the popular and successful landlord of the "Cascad- nac" at Royalton village. The patronage has largely increased under the skillful and kindly hands of Mr. and Mrs. Harrington, and the demand for rooms by summer boarders has necessitated the enlarging of the building. Last year the roof on the ell part was raised, and another story added, and the "Old Hall" that had been the scene of so many shows and functions that drove dull care away, is now cut up into sleeping rooms.

Mr. and Mrs. Harrington give personal attention to their guests, and every train on its arrival finds a representative of the hotel at the station to greet any guest who may desire enter- tainment for a longer or a shorter time.

Mr. Daniel Tarbell's last work in fostering the growth of the new village was the building of the "Central Vermont House." This was a two and one-half story hotel erected south of, and near the hotel of Mr. Woodard. It was built about 1872, and existed only fifteen years or so when it burned down. Dan- iel C. Jones was conducting the hotel at the time it was burned. It had been rented to different parties. Most of the large force of workmen employed in building the new block in South Roy- alton were boarded there.

Mention should be made of "Brightwood," which, though not strictly speaking a hotel, furnished entertainment in South Royalton for transients and regular boarders for several years. This was owned by Warren J. Bright, who, with his capable wife, gave personal attention to his numerous guests, who, com- ing once, desired to come again. Owing to impaired health, they sold their roomy house to George W. Brown in 1909, and removed to the upper part of the village.

CHAPTER XXV.

POST-OFFICES AND POST-ROADS.

In the first years of her existence Vermont was quite as prompt and generous in establishing post-roads and post-offices as Congress was. Four years after the Grants declared their independence, on June 19, 1781, the Governor and Council passed the following resolution :

"Resolved that Mr. Samuel Sherman be employed to ride post from his Excellency's in Arlington to Camp Head Quarters (at Castle- ton) once a week three months from the date hereof, to go up one road by the way of Tinmouth and return by the way of Pawlet; that for his Encouragement he be allowed fourteen shillings per week out of the State's Treasury, he to convey all public letters & dispatches free of all other expence."

This was the first post-route established in Vermont, and was directly for the benefit of the Governor, but indirectly all the inhabitants of the state would profit thereby. The post- rider evidently found it a paying business, for in 1783 his com- pensation was reduced to nine shillings a week, and the money he received from postage on letters was to be deducted there- from.

The people at large were given better facilities for the transmission of public business by an act of the Assembly, March 5, 1784, which provided for establishing a post-office department in the state, with post-riders. Anthony Haswell of Bennington was the first Postmaster General. There were to be five post- offices, viz .: Bennington, Rutland, Brattleboro, Windsor, and Newbury. The post-rider from Bennington to Brattleboro was to have three pence per mile, and the others two pence. The post-riders had exclusive right of carriage. Any one trying to run a rival post was to be fined ten pounds, to be paid to any postmaster who should be successful in convicting the invader. Post-riders were to make weekly trips, and could have all fees accruing from the carrying of letters and packets of every kind. The pay to post-riders by the mile ceased in 1790 by legislative action. Concerning the advantages of the new postal act the Vermont Journal of March 24, 1784, thus expressed itself :

"We flatter ourselves the Honorable Assembly have done essen- tial service to the State by adopting this measure, as it naturally tends to unite the people thereof-affords a regular source of information

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with the Southern States there being already a post established from Bennington to Albany-gives a thorough vent for the circulation of newspapers (that most excellent vehicle of intelligence and conveni- ence) supplies us with the means of transmitting domestic occurrences, both public & private: and in fine, from so important an establishment, if conducted with regularity, we may anticipate the most happy con- sequences."

That was progress and enterprise in 1784. Today a man who reads only a weekly paper is likely to be dubbed a "hay- seed." The Vermont Gazette in November announced that a four-horse stage was ready to run between New York and Strat- ford ferry, Conn., which completed the stage route from Ports- mouth, N. H., to Richmond, Va., a distance of about 700 miles.

In 1792 additional post-offices were established in the state under the authority of Congress. Four post-routes were laid out in Vermont, the one nearest Royalton being a route from Brattleboro, through Charlestown, N. H., to Windsor and Han- over, N. H. Brattleboro had a post-route to Springfield, Mass., so the line was complete from Windsor to Springfield. By the way of Rutland and Burlington, Royalton could send matter to Albany, N. Y., provided she could get her mail to these points. In 1793 Josiah Allen advertised himself as a post-rider from Windsor to Braintree. He asked those in Royalton who had had the Vermont Journal to lodge pay with Dr. Searle or Benjamin Parkhurst. Spooner's Vermont Journal of 1803 advertises a mail route from Jericho, through Montpelier, Williamstown, Randolph, Royalton, Woodstock and Windsor. In 1806 there was a stage from Boston to Burlington, which left Windsor on Wednesdays at 4 a. m., and reached Montpelier the next day before noon. It left Montpelier at noon the same day, and ar- rived in Burlington Tuesday at 9 a. m. It left Burlington at 3 p. m., and arrived in Montpelier Saturday afternoon. It left there at 6 a. m. Monday, and reached Windsor, Tuesday at 3 p. m. The same year mails left Royalton every Monday at 6 a. m., and passed through Tunbridge, Chelsea, and Vershire to Corinth, reaching Corinth at 6 p. m. They left Corinth at 6 a. m. every Tuesday and arrived in Royalton at 6 p. m. This was a weekly post-route.

Rates of postage were at first according to miles. In 1810 the rate for 40 miles was 8 cents, between 40 and 90 it was 10 cents, between 150 and 300 it was 17 cents, and over 500 miles, 25 cents. The high rates of postage led to the private convey- ance of letters, and it might be weeks before a letter would reach its destination. The stages did not run with regularity. When they did, it required nine or ten days for a letter to come from Boston to Royalton, and even longer for one to cross the moun- tain. The days of money orders and bank checks had not

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arrived, and money was sent in letters. It was customary to divide a bill into three or more parts, and send one part in one letter, and the others, each in a different letter, and when the recipient had all the pieces he would go to work and put them together again.

In 1813 there was a post-road from Concord, N. H., to Montpelier, through Hanover, Hartford, Sharon, Royalton, Ran- dolph, Brookfield, and Williamstown. At this time Stafford Smith was innkeeper at Royalton, and one Benton at Sharon. Those were the days when it sent the blood tingling through the veins of an admiring on-looker, as the high-perched driver of the four or six-horse stage proudly galloped up to the tavern, his long whip making graceful pirouettes in the air and ending with a sharp crack, that spurred the tired horses to show their best mettle.

No post-office seems to have been established in Royalton previous to 1798. Through the courtesy of the First Assistant Postmaster General, the Hon. F. H. Hitchcock, a list of the in- cumbents of the office has been received, extending from 1798 to 1898, an even century. The list follows :

"Elkanah Stevens, appointed Jan. 1, 1798; Zebulon Lyon, April 1, 1803; Asa Edgerton, Oct. 1, 1813; Loraine Terry, Nov. 25, 1816; Oramel Sawyer, Jan. 15, 1821; John Warren, April 4, 1831; Jabez H. Board- man, May 24, 1834; Joel B. Fox, Sept. 20, 1837; Edward P. Nevins, Nov. 17, 1837; Elijah D. Blodgett, July 24, 1850; Julius P. Smith, Aug. 31, 1853; Charles N. Parker, Sept. 5, 1881; Alice E. Parker, Oct. 24, 1887; George A. Laird, Sept. 26, 1898."

These names with few exceptions are often found in the records of the town. Sketches of most of these persons will be found in the genealogical half of this volume. Very little has been learned regarding John Warren and Joel B. Fox. Mr. Fox held the office less than two months. Miss Alice E. Parker has the distinction of being the only woman who held the Roy- alton office during the whole century of its existence. Mr. Laird still continues as postmaster. J. P. Smith was postmaster for the longest period of time, twenty-eight years. The office was kept in his store, in the building that he rented of Mrs. Felch. Miss Parker had the office in her home. She was appointed on the death of her father.

The office at South Royalton was established in 1851. Ly- man Benson was postmaster from that date until 1853, when Horatio K. Blake was appointed. He was succeeded in 1862 by Charles C. Southgate. Mr. Southgate held the office longer than any other incumbent, until the democrats succeeded in placing Cleveland in the presidential chair. Henry H. Whit- comb was given the office in 1885. Miss Helen Southgate, daughter of Charles C. Southgate, was appointed postmistress

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in July, 1889, the only woman to hold the office in South Roy- alton. She in turn gave way in 1893 to Charles E. Black. Mr. Black was followed in 1897 by Will M. Sargent, who held the office until 1902. The office was then raised to the rank of third class, and Julius Orlando Belknap was commissioned postmaster on January 22nd, 1902. Mr. Belknap died in 1910, and his son, Perley S. Belknap, was appointed to fill the vacancy, in Decem- ber of that year.

The amount of matter passing through the office has con- tinually increased since its first establishment. When the Rural Delivery system became operative in 1903, the business of the office was still further increased. Three routes were then estab- lished, and one stage route continues from South Royalton to Chelsea, and one from Royalton to East Bethel, East Randolph, South Randolph, North Randolph, and East Brookfield, once daily. The stage to Chelsea runs twice daily to meet the first train south in the forenoon, and last train north in the after- noon. This stage makes one trip on Sunday. Mail route No. 1 covers the part of the town north of the river. It is 231/2 miles in length, accommodates 110 families with a population of 481. The mail carrier is Otis H. Flint. Route No. 2 extends to Broad Brook, East Barnard, and into Pomfret, covering the southeast part of the town. It is 241/2 miles in length, supplies 85 families with a population of 375. Gardner Ashley was the first carrier, but was compelled to resign on account of ill health. The present carrier is Erle H. Faneuf. Route No. 3 covers the southwest part of the town, toward Barnard and Bethel. Its length is 241/2 miles, the number of families on the route is 86, and the population, 299. James M. Shepard is the carrier. The revenue from the post-office for the quarter ending Sep. 30, 1910, was $759.61. The salary of the office has risen from $1,000 in 1902 to $1,400, the present salary.

A list of stage routes from and through Royalton was very kindly furnished by the Second Assistant Postmaster General, the Hon. W. S. Shallenberg. In the letter accompanying the list he said :

"I have to inform you that the records of this Office relating to mail transportation prior to 1839, are incomplete owing to partial destruction by fire in 1836, and to other causes. This Office under- stands that the post office at Royalton, Vermont, was established in 1798. The first record of any kind of mail routes at Royalton is an advertisement for proposals dated April 1, 1809, covering the term from October 1, 1809 to September 30, 1811, on routes No. 29 and 32, as follows:

Route No. 29, from Windsor, by Woodstock, Royalton, Randolph, Williamstown, Berlin, Montpelier, Middlesex, Waterbury, Bolton, Jericho, Williston, to Burlington, once a week.

Route No. 32, from Royalton, by Tunbridge, Chelsea, and Vershire, to Corinth, once a week.

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Following is a list of routes advertised on which the names of contractors, their compensation, and their methods of transportation are not known:

Advertisement of July 10, 1810, for service from January 1, 1811, to September 30, 1811.

Route No. 6, From Middlebury by Royalton to Hanover, once in two weeks.

Advertisement of April 10, 1811, for service from October 1, 1811, to December 31, 1814.

Route No. 34, From Royalton, by Tunbridge, Vershire, Corinth, Newbury, Peacham, Ryegate, Barnet, Littleton, and Concord, to Lun- enburg, once a week.

Route No. 35, From Windsor, by Woodstock, Barnard, Royalton, Randolph, Williamstown, Berlin, Montpelier, Middlesex, Waterbury, Bolton, Jericho and Williston, to Burlington, twice a week."

Route No. 34 was slightly changed in 1815, and covered a distance of 109 miles. In 1824 it was made to end at Brad- ford, a distance of 34 miles. In 1829 it went on to Haverhill, N. H., 41 miles. The contractor was Stafford Smith, and he made his trip three times a week in a two-horse stage. In 1833 this stage ran twice a week, the contractor being Lement (Lem- uel?) Bacon. In 1837 the stage started from Bethel, and ran three times a week, Mahlon Cottrill, contractor. In 1841 the route was extended to South Newbury, S. A. Babbitt, contractor. In 1845 the route was from Royalton to East Corinth, 28 miles; Elihu Norton, contractor. After a settlement was started at South Royalton, the route was again changed, in 1849, to run from South Royalton to Chelsea, 15 miles; Sidney S. Smith, con- tractor. The stage then made only three trips a week. It has not been ascertained when daily trips were first made, but prob- ably during, if not before, the Civil War. The twice-a-day service was ordered in 1898, and for three years proved a source of loss to the contractor, Marvin H. Hazen. The Sunday serv- ice began about 1900. The mail carriers, so far as has been learned, have been John Snow, Chester Sanborn, Daniel C. Jones, Josiah Spencer, a Mr. Davis, Benjamin Hyde, Moritz Volk, a Mr. Dodge, Herbert Taylor, who came from Andover, N. H., Charles Peters of Bradford, Martin Ordway of Chelsea, Carlton O. Burnham, formerly of W. Fairlee, Marvin H. Hazen, and Harry Bryant. Mr. Hazen took the route Sep. 25, 1895, and still holds it. Mr. Bryant has the mail contract. A thor- cugh-brace Concord coach has been run much of the time by Mr. Hazen, who has employed Mr. Bryant as carrier ever since he took the contract in 1895. Different ones have driven the second stage, the present driver being Fred Culver.

Chester Sanborn held the route for a considerable period. He was very popular, and made it a paying business. Mr. Burnham was rather profane, and very fond of fun. He did not check his oaths, even when he knew that he had a clergyman

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aboard. He told one reverend gentleman that he had just as lief go to hell as to heaven, for he had friends in both places. While he was the carrier, he, with the aid of George Mudgett and M. H. Hazen, in 1892 got up a coupon ticket and a time table to advertise the Chelsea route, which they named "Jigger Central Electric R. R." These slips were distributed to people coming in on the trains. The stations on the tickets bore the names, "South Royalton Junction, Brooklyn Crossing, Shoe- maker's Falls, Jigger Harbor, Dustin's Corner, Tunbridge Mar- ket, Blood Village, Randolph Junction, and Chelsea." Under the caption, "Movement of Trains," they announced, "Nos. 11 and 12 (Limited Express) are limited to two miles an hour. Any engineer proven to have run faster will be immediately dis- charged and passenger's money refunded." "Nos. 66 and 55 (Mail) will stop at all stations where there is a post-office one hour and ten minutes. This order is imperative, as it will allow postmasters and postmistresses time to read both sides of the postal cards." Under "General Rules and Regulations," the. public was informed, "Conductors and Engineers will take it for granted that the right of way belongs to their train, and in case of doubt go ahead and take their chances." "Engineers must not blow their whistles while standing at stations, unless there are horses enough around to make it an object." In ex- plaining signals, it was stated, "One blast of the steam whistle denotes that the engineer is awake. Two blasts denote that a section man has been seen near the track." The different cou- pons were "take-offs" on local names and unsuccessful enter- prises. The first coupon read as follows :

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History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 43

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280